PEI Loves Burgers

Last month, PEI beef lovers were in hamburger heaven as restaurants competed to create the ultimate burger made with 100 per cent PEI beef. An extensive marketing campaign called “PEI Burger Love” encouraged Islanders to get out and taste burgers from 22 restaurants. Each person who sampled a burger was then asked to “rate their love” online. The burger with the highest “love” rating won the crown.

This was the second year for PEI Burger Love, a month-long celebration, organized by Island Beef in partnership with the PEI Cattle Producers, PEI Department of Agriculture & Forestry, PEI Flavours and Fresh Media.

Over the course of the campaign, 16,150 burgers were sold—an average of 538 every day—and 7,835 pounds of beef were consumed. That's one burger for every nine Islanders.

“The growth of PEI Burger Love this year was tremendous,” said Rinnie Bradley, executive director of the PEI Cattle Producers, in a news release. “The final numbers exceeded everyone's expectations.”

When the final ratings were tallied, Charlottetown restaurant Papa Joe ‘s won with its Goddess burger, by chef Irwin MacKinnon. The Mediterranean-inspired burger featured garlic sauce, crumbled feta, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato, and was garnished with a stuffed olive, pickled turnip and battered banana pepper rings. Yum.

“We already have new restaurants contacting us about next year,” says Melody Dover, president of Fresh Media.